The Annual Nourishing Minds, Sustaining Futures Summit will take place this Wednesday, June 18. Now, in its third year, the program aims to foster food justice and food education in schools and is open to the public. Host Douglas Haynes speaks with three of the organizers–Allison Pfaff Harris, Sonya Sankaran, and Kathy Oker–about the event’s speakers, workshops, and the importance of environmental education. 

There’s a lack of equity in outdoor education and within outdoor spaces more generally, says Oker. She wants to help all people repair their relationship with the natural world, and that means changing the culture at local schools so that more administrators can help teachers get their students outside for class. Outdoor education can improve the quality of students’ overall education and foster the idea that the world is our classroom. In that light, nature ceases to be a cute add-on to education.

Sankaran says nature-based art projects awaken students sensory systems. She leads projects in ephemeral art, like weaving with milkweed and goldenrod. For Sankaran, art is just a different, non-verbal mode of learning and storytelling.

Pfaff Harris describes the history of how REAP developed a grant-funded program to support high-school educators and students. She says that farm-to-school can be practiced by schools, caregivers, and beyond. And in light of federal cuts to farm to school programs, she says it’s more important than ever to be making the connection between food and climate justice. 

Allison Pfaff Harris is the Farm to School Director at REAP Food Group.  

Sonya Sankaran is an artist, ecologist, and educator focused on the relationship between nature and health. 

Kathy Oker is a progressive educator who has worked at Wingra School for 25 years.

Featured image of the banner for the Nourishing Minds, Sustaining Futures Summit. 

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